Aviation Minister Intervenes As IndiGo Scraps Flights For 2 To 3 Days, Asks Exemption Till Feb 10

IndiGo's ongoing operational crisis has prompted central intervention after widespread cancellations left lakhs of passengers stranded across airports.

The airline has asked for temporary exemptions from revised pilot duty norms till February 10, 2026, while acknowledging that planning lapses and crew shortages triggered large-scale disruptions.

IndiGo Admits Miscalculations In Crew Planning

IndiGo sought relief from new rest and duty hours for its A320 fleet, stating that it had misjudged crew requirements under the revised rules. It explained that the shift in the definition of night duty from midnight to 5 am to midnight to 6 am had temporarily been rolled back, along with the cap on night landings, as part of efforts to stabilise operations.

The airline said cancellations would likely continue over the next two to three days as it adjusts schedules and reduces operations beginning December 8 to contain further disruption.

The crisis intensified over the past three days, with weather constraints, traffic congestion and planning gaps compounding the impact. The surge in cancellations led to IndiGo being summoned by Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu for an emergency review meeting with senior officials of MoCA, DGCA, AAI and the airline's leadership. The ministry said it is closely tracking network performance after disruptions increased significantly since late November.

FDTL Phase 2 Transition Triggers Operational Turbulence

During the review, IndiGo explained that the disruption was linked to challenges in implementing Phase 2 of the revised Flight Duty Time Limitations norms introduced on November 1 following a court directive. The airline told regulators that the number of pilots required under the updated fatigue management framework was higher than expected.

Data presented to the DGCA showed that staffing needs rose sharply during night operations, where airport slots are limited and duty restrictions are tighter. The new norms, designed to strengthen pilot safety and fatigue control, forced a shift in rostering patterns and put pressure on existing pilot strength.

Regulator Issues Compliance Mandates Amid High Cancellations

DGCA officials noted that IndiGo has been cancelling between 170 and 200 flights a day, well above routine fluctuation levels. In response, the regulator ordered IndiGo to submit a detailed roadmap for crew hiring, aircraft induction and operational restoration.

It also directed the airline to produce a revised stabilisation plan, fortnightly progress reports and a list of FDTL relaxations required to bring operations back to normal.

The DGCA said it will continue real-time monitoring of IndiGo's network and passenger-handling performance until the situation stabilises.

Inspections Reveal Passenger Handling Shortfalls At Key Airports

As complaints increased, DGCA teams conducted surprise inspections at major airports, including Delhi's Terminal 1 which saw the worst congestion. Officials found passenger-handling manpower insufficient to deal with the volume of stranded travellers, causing long queues and delays in assistance.

IndiGo has been instructed to immediately boost staff deployment at affected terminals and strengthen ground support services to ease the burden on passengers.

Government Calls For Fair Airfares And Enhanced Passenger Support

To safeguard passengers during the disruption period, the Civil Aviation Minister directed AAI to step up assistance across airports. MoCA has asked DGCA to keep a close watch on airfares to prevent abnormal fare surges while disruptions continue.